Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration
This lecture by Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discusses the
importance of adult stem cells in the tissue maintenance,
development and regeneration. Part 1 of 6.
HHMI description:
Mature organisms have stem cells of various sorts, called adult stem
cells. Adult stem cells supply cells that compensate for the loss of
cells from normal cell death and turnover, such as the ever-dying
cells of our skin, our blood, and the lining of our gut. They are
also an essential source of cells for healing and regeneration in
response to injury. Some animals, such as sea stars, newts, and
flatworms, are capable of dramatic feats of regeneration, producing
replacement limbs, eyes, or most of a body. It is an evolutionary
puzzle why mammals have more limited powers of regeneration.
Researchers are interested in pinpointing where adult stem cells
reside and in understanding how flexible adult stem cells are in
their ability to produce divergent cells such as muscle and red
blood cells. Understanding the sources and the rules for the
differentiation of adult stem cells is essential for tapping their
therapeutic potential. Since consenting adults can provide adult
stem cells, some people think that adult stem cells may be a less
controversial area of research than embryonic stem cells.